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F. B. DAVIS.

FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPucmou msn APR. 1. 191s.

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WMA/@ THB commun PLANOGRAFM to.. WASHIMIUN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATEIWAOEEQE.

FRANK B. DAVIS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN EASSIGNMENTS, TO DRAPER CORPORATION, 0F HOPEDAL-E, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEEDER-MOTION FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, FRANK B. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at I'lopcdale, in the county of Worcester' and State oflVIassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in I `cele1'-l\lotions forLooms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to looms, and moreparticularly to the feeler motions thereof, whereby upon detection ofsubstantial exhaustion of the filling in the running shuttle, a train ofmechanism is rendered effective to change the operative condition of theloom, as by replenishing the supply of filling.

Various types of feeler motions have been devised, some ot which havehad a feeler to enter the shuttle on the detect-ing beat of the lay andby measurino the diameter of the filling in the shuttle lave detectedthat condition of approaching exhaustion at which replenishment wasdesired and have thereupon initiated the replenishing operation. Inother feeler motions` there have been penetrating and impinging feelermembers, which, when the penetrating member has been struck by thesurface of the filling carrier or bobbin, have initiated fillingreplenishment. In still another type, the fcelcr motion has beenprovided'vwith a feeler, which, when the lling had reached substantialexhaustion, would be moved in a general direction longitudinally of theshuttle as the lay beat up, and by such movement would position anactuator for coperation with a controller to eii'ect iillingreplenishment on further frontward movement of the tecler. In this typeof' feeler motion, the detecting member has been pivotally offset uponits carrier and provided with a lling en aging end, such that, While aworkingl supp?7 of filling was present on a detecting beat, thedetecting member would be held from movement on its pivot relative tothe bobbin by the mass of filling thereon, but when the filling hadbecome substantially exhausted, and while suflicient still remained inthe shuttle to reach several times across the lay, the frontwarfl pushof the bobbin would turn the detecting inember upon its pivot andthereby swing the actuator into position to operate the controller asthe feeler was moved farther to the front of the loom, and therebyinitiate replenishment of the filling. vAs well understood by thoseskilled in the art, a feeler motion must be sensitive and reliable inthe discharge of its detecting function in order that it will not callfor a change when a working supply of' filling' is present in thcshuttle, and yet effect replenishment when substantial exhaustion isreached. It must be light, also, and easily moved by the front- Wardpush in order that no injury shall be done the lilling during therecurrent engagements therewith during weaving, and especially should itnot pick under the final layer or layers of lling when substantialexhaustion reached, which would tend to prevent the frontward push ofthe boblbin from moving the feeler member into position for thedischarge of' its detecting function or break the lilling itself.

An important feature of' the present invention, therefore, consists of afeeler motion wherein the filling feeler or engaging member shall bemounted upon its carrier so that upon substantial exhaustion of thefilling the feeler member shall be moved bodily lon itudinally of theshuttle by the forward puslli upon the teeler member. In the presentinstance of the invention, this character of bodily movement is effectedby mounting the filling engaging member of the feeler upon its carrierby parallel motion devices, which may take various forms, as forinstance, parallel link connections, in which case the feeler memberwill be prevented from angular movement relative to the bobbin in theshuttle andv conse ueutly its engaging end will not pick undici* or passbetween the coils of yarn and the bobbin and tend to break the yarn orbe held from its detectinO movement.

The albove and other features of the iuvention Will be hereinafterdescribed in connection with the accom anying drawing and thendefinitely set fort in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a teeler motion embodyingfeatures of the present inven- .tiem only sufficient of the loom partsbeing illustrated as are necessary to make clear the association of thepresent invention tl i erew ith Fig. 2` is a section on the line 2 2,liig. l g

Fig. d is a plan view showing,r the action of the feolcr on thcdetecting bcatnp movlAA ment of thc lay when a working;l supply offillingl is presi-nt in the shuttle; and

Fig. l is a similar view Ashowingr the posi.- tion of parts on adetcctilmV beat when the filling is substantially exhausted.

The feeler motion, in the present invention, comprises a fceler carrierwhich is mounted on a fixed portion of the loom or a bracket securedthereto 'for movement toward and from the front of the loom and mountedupon the feel-er carrier is the fecler member which directly receivesthe forward push of' the filling mass in the shuttle as the lay beatsup. This feclcr member has` a ronghcncd or toothed portion which, when aworking supply of filling is present, cngagcs the mass of filling on thedetecting beat and is held from bodily movement rela tive to the feelercarrier b v the filling; but when the filling has bccome substantiallyexhausted and only sufficient remains upon the bobbin in the shuttle toextend one or more times across` the lay, the toothed portion of thefeeler member will engage the surface of the bobbin and be no longerrestrained from bodily movement longitudinally of the shuttle by theforward push of the bobbin against it, but will move bodily in suchdirection under the forward impulse of the bobbin and thereby positionan actu ator operatively with respect to a controller so that onmovement of the fillingr carrier while the fillingr member is thusdisplaced bodily with respect thereto, the actuator will move thecontroller and initiate filling replenishment. In the present instancethe feeler motion comprises a easing' or stand 1 which may beappropriately secured to the loom frame or bracket secured thereto bymeans of suitable screws 2 or other fastening devices. lillounted in thecasingr or stand 1 is the feeler carrier which is capable of movementtoward and from the front of the loom. In the present instance, thefeeler carrier comprises a plate 3 having' a shank or front portion 4and supported for reciproeatingr movement in the stand 1. The feclercarrier 3 is normally under the influence of a spring which maintainsthe feeler carrier in its projected rear position, substantially asindicated in Fig. 1. In the present instance, the shank or stem 4 of thefeeler carrier 3 is surrounded by a spring 5 one end of which bears aeinst a shoulder 6 of the feeler carrier, an the other end against theinner surface 7 of the stand 1, the construction being such that byforward pressure the feeler carrier B may be moved frontwardly againstthe action of the spring 5 and when such forward pressure is removed,the spring` 5 may return the fceler earlier Il to its nor mal orfeeling' position.

The feeler carrier 3 has mounted thereon a fceler member which directlyreceivesl upon it the forward push ol thc filling in the shuttle on thedetecting beat. and such fceler member is conm-rml to the fcclcr carrierso that when the filling' becomes substantially exhausted and the timearrives at which a rcplenislnnent of lhe filling' is desirable, :auchfeeler member will be moved bodily in a direction longitudinally of theshuttle by the forward push exerted thereupon as the lay makes itsdetecting beat, and thereafter both the feeler member and the feelercarrier will be moved frontward to cause the actuator controlled by thefcclcr member to engage the controller and initiate filling replenishnient.

In the present instant-o of tlnl invention, thc. feeler member isconnected to the feeler carrier by parallel motion devices .such thatwhen displaced lollg'itudimill)7 of the shuttle by the forward pushexerted upon it, such feelcr member will be prevented from changing,Yits angular relation with the longitudinal axis of the bobbin, and theteeth or engaging portion of thc feeler member will not pick under thecoils of filling still remain ing` on the bobbin as it performs itsdetectingn movement.

ln the illustrated form of the invention` thc feeler member comprises afeeler portion S provided with a series of teeth or roughened portionsfl which are adapted lo engage either the mass of filling in the shutfleand be held thereby from longitudinal movement relative to the shuttlewhen a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, butwhich, when the fillingr has become substantially exhausted, will movelongitudinally along the surface of the bobbin under the forward pushthereof, without changing,r the angular relation of the feeler memberwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin or the feelercarrier. To effect this bodily longitudinal movement of the feelermember under the conditions stated, said feeler member is connected tothe fceler carrier by parallel motion devices shown in the presentinstance as comprising the two links 10 and 11, one end of each linkbeing pivotally connected at 12 to the feeler member and the other endconnected at 13 to the feeler carrier. Interposed between the feelermember and the feeler carrier il is a light spring 141, which normallymaintains the feeler member projected rearwardly beyond the end of thefeeler carrier, but permits such feeler member to move toward the feelercarrier under the froutward impulse of the bobbin when the filling hasbccome substantially exhausted.

As a convenient and goed practical form of the parallel motionconnection between the feeler member and the feeler carrier, said feelermember may be provided with a slotted portion 15 as indicated by dottedlines in Figs. l, 2 and Si; and likewise, the end of the feeler carrier3 may similarly be provided with a slotted portion 1G, the edge of saidslotted portions being adapted for the reception and movement betweenthem of the parallel links 10 and 11. @Wing to the stress upward ordownward that may sometimes be exerted upon the feeler member on theforward impulse of the bobbin or the filling thereon, the slotted endportion of the feeler carrier 3 is made sui'icient in dimension topermit sliding movement of the feeler member therein, substantially asindicated in Fig. 2.

(.)pcratively connected to the feeler member is an actuator which, inthe present 1nstance, comprises an arm 17 extendingr from the feelermember frontwardly along;r the side of the feeler carrier 3, theconstruction being such that when the feeler member is in its normalfeeling position as indicated in Fig. 1, the actuator' 17 will engagethe side of the eeler carrier 3 and constitute a stop to limit theprojecting movement of the feeler member beyond the end of the feelercarrier under the impulse of the spring 14, substantially as indicatedin F igs. 1 and 3. The spring for projecting the feeler member beyondthe end of the feeler carrier into its normal position may be variouslyapplied, but in the present instance it is conveniently placed betweenthe parallel motion devices connecting the feeler member and the feelercarrier. In order that the feeler member and actuator operativelyconnected thereto shall be properly guided as the feeler member is movedbodily longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat when the supplyof filling has become substantially exhausted, the feeler 3 ispreferably provided with an enlarged head 18 for the accommodation ofthe slot or openintgr 16, and such slot or openingr 16 may be continuedalong the side of the feeler head for the reception. of the actuator 17as the feeler member and said actuator are bodily moved by the forwardpush of the bobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted.

As usual in this character of loom, the shuttle-box 19 is provided withan opening 20 in its front Wall and similarly, the Wall 21 of theshuttle 22 is provided with an opening 23, so that the feeler member mayenter the shuttle and detect the condition of the filling therein on thedetecting beat. The bobbin 24 may be of usual construction andmaintained in position :in the shuttle for (lelivery of the yarn duringthe weaving operation by suitable means such as the usual jaws 25 andthe jaw engaging rings 26.

The present invention contemplates that when the filling;f has becomesubstantially exhausted on a detectingr beat. the l'eeler member may bemoved bodily iu :i dirertion longitudinally of the shuttle withoutchangingr its angular relation to the axis of the bobbin so that theenglfapfinpr teeth or roughened portions of the feeler mrmbcr shall notpass between the surface of the bobbin and the coils of yarn thereon`which would have a tendency to break the filling or destroy thesensitivoness of the detecting action of the feeler member. When thefeeler member has been thus moved. the actuator 17 is positioned forengagement With a controller 27 as the feeler carrier 3 is movedfrontwardly during the beatup movement. The controller 27 may bevariously formed and connected to any desired train of mechanism forchanging the operative condition of the loom and in the present instanceit is of the general character noi-v Well knoivn for initiatingrfillingr replenishment. In order that the controller 27 may be properlyguided as it is moved by the actuator from the position indicated inFigs. 1 and 3 to that indicated in Fig. 4, said controller is preferablydirected in its movement by a guide 28 which may take the form of abracket or arm projecting from the feeler stand 1. In the piesentinstancf` of the invention. this `ruido or bracket 28 mav be secured tothe teeler stand by suitable means such as the screws 29.

From the construction described as a `ood practical form of the presentinvention. it will be noted that when a Workingr supply of iilline ispresent in the shuttle on a deteeting` beat, the mass of filling willengage the teeth 9 of the feeler member and will prevent bodily movementof the feeler member longitudinally of the shuttle as the lay completesits forward movement` the feeler member and feeler slide being movedbodily to the front, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. When.however` the fillingr in the shuttle has become substantially exhaustedas indicated in Fig. 4, the amount of filling on the bobbin will nolonger be sufficient to prevent movement of the fceler memberlongitudinally of the shuttle under the forward impulse or push exertedagainst the feeler member. and said feeler member Will thereupon bodilymove under the direction of the parallel motion devices vvhilemaintainingr its unchanged angular relation to the aXis of the shuttleor the bobbin therein. substantially as indicated in Fig. 4. llVlien thefeeler member has thus been bodily displaced longitudinally of theshuttle` the actuator 17 will be positioned operatively with relation tothe controller Q7 aud upon farther forward movement of the feeler memberand 'feeler carrier i5 said controller 2T will bc moved to initiatefilling replenishment or otherwise arl through a train ot mechanism tochange the olierative nondition oiE the loom. llieu tbe ieeler memberhas been thus bodily displaced longitudinally olf the sl'iuttle, it willhave compressed tlie sp1-ingrl ll and the edge portion 31 oi the f'eelercarrier will constitute a stop for limiting the longitudinal displacingmovement oi the feeler member by engagement with the edge portion 30 of'the fee-ler member.

What is claimed is zl. A fecler motion for looms7 comprising a feelermember to directly engage the fillin;r iu the shuttle on a detectingbeat and bodily displaced longitudinally of the shuttle by thefrontivard pressure when the filling is sulistantially exhausted. anactuator combined nitli said vfcelcr member having a reciprocatingstroke, a controller adapted to be moved by the actuator in itsnormallydirected stroke when the feeler member has been bodily displacedlongitudinally, and means for preserving the angular relation of theshuttle und feeler member unchanged as the feeler member is bodilydisplaced longitudinally of the shuttle by the forward push.

2. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, afeeler member, connections between the fecler member and feeler carrierfor confining the feeler member to parallel movements as it is displacedlongitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward pressure of a surfaceWithin the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, anactuator connected to the feeler member for movement toward the front ofthe loom, and a controller normally out of the path of the actuator asit is moved front- Wardly and adapted to be operated by the actuatorwhen the feeler member has been displaced longitudinally of the shuttleby the frontWard pressure.

3. In a feeler Ymotion for looms, the combination of a feeler memberthat receives the push of the filling contained in the shuttle and isbodily displaced longitudinally7 of the shuttle by the frontwardpressure when the filling is substantially exhausted,` means acting asthe feeler member is bodily displaced longitudinally of the shuttle bythe forward pressure to prevent angular movement of the engaging portionof the feeler and cause it to travel along the bobbin in unalteredangular relation to the axis thereof` an actuator having a normallydirected reciprocating stroke and operatively post tioned the bodilylateral displacement of the feeler member, and a controllerthat isactuated by the normally directed stroke of the actuator toward thefront of the loom when operatively positioned by the laterally displacedfeeler member.

4. A feeler motion for looms comprisin a Ateeler carrier, a `feclcr torengaging the lling in the shuttle,y parallel link motion devicesconnectingl the f'eelcr with the feeler carrier 'for movement. bodilytoward the freier carrier and in a direction longitudinally of' theshuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat,means for normally holding the feeler carrier in rearward position andpermitting it to yield frontwardly, an actuator movable with the feelcrcarrier as the latter moved frontivaivlly, and a controller adapted tobe actuated by frontward movement of the actuator when it has beenlaterally displaced.

In a iceler motion for looms, a feeler carrier` a feeler member,parallel motion devices connecting the feeler carrier and feeler memberfor directing [he lateral movement of' the feelcr member in a directionto preserve the parallel relation of said feeler member and hobbin inthe shuttle when the feeler member is laterally displaced by thefrontward push against it, an actuator connected to and bodily movableWith and in the same direction as the feeler member, and a controlleradapted to be actuated by the actuator When the feeler member has beenlaterally displaced.

6. ln a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a f'eeler carriermounted for recilirocating movement toward and from the front of theloom, a feeler member for directly receiving the push of the filling inthe shuttle as the lay beats up and bodily displaced longitudinally ofthe shuttle by the forward push of a surface carried by the shuttle whenthe filling is .substantially exhausted, parallel motion connectionsbetween the carrier and feeler member for preventing relative angularmovement of said parts when the feeler member is displacedlongitudinally of the shuttle, a actuator adapted to be moved by and inthe same direction as the feeler member, and a controller operated bythe actuator.

7. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler membermovable in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontwardpressure of a surface Within the shuttle when the filling issubstantially exhausted on a detecting beat, means for confining thefecler member to parallel movements longitudinally of the shuttle, anactuator having a normally directed stroke toward the front of the loom,and a controller adapted to be operated by the actuator.

8. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a Jfeeler memberhaving a toothed engaging edge portion to receive the forward push ofthe filling mass as the lay beats up and to be displaced longitdnally ofthe shuttle by the forward push of the bobbin when the filling issubstantially exhausted, a feeler carrier, guiding means between thefeeler' carrier and feeler member to cause the toothed portion of thefeeler member to maintain its angular relation to the axis of the bobbinunchanged and in parallel paths as it is moved longitudinally of thebobbin, a controller, and an actuator moved into operative relation withthe controller by longitudinal displacement of the feeler member.

9. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, afeeler member, parallel links connecting the feeler member to saidcarrier, a spring normally acting to project the feeler member beyondthe end of the carrier and yielding to permit bodily movement of thefeeler member laterally of the feeler carrier by the forward push of thebobbin when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detectin beat ofthe lay, an actuator bodily mova le With and in the same direction asthe feeler member, and means operated by the actuator when the feelermember is displaced laterally on a detecting beat to initiate fillingreplenishment.

10. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, afeeler member projecting beyond the end of the carrier and having atoothed portion to receive the push of the filling in the shuttle as thelay beats u and to be bodily displaced longitudinally of) the shuttle bythe forward push upon it when the filling is substantially exhausted,parallel motion devices connecting the feeler member and feeler carrierto cause such bodily movement of the feeler member to be made Whilemaintaining unchanged the angular relation of the feeler carrier andfeeler member, yielding means acting to move the feeler member bodily inthe opposite direction when relieved of the front- Ward push upon it,means for limiting relative movement of the feeler carrier and feelermember in either direction, an actuator bodily movable with and in thesame direction as the feeler member to initiate filling replenishmentupon frontward movement of the 'feeler carrier When the feeler memberhas been laterally displaced.

11. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, afeeler member projecting beyond the end of the carrier and having atoothed portion to receive the push of the filling in the shuttle as thelay beats up and to be bodily displaced longitudinally of the shuttle bythe forward push upon it when the filling is substantially exhausted,parallel motion devices pivotally connecting the feeler member andfeeler carricr at points separated longitudinally of the shuttle tocause such bodily movement of the feeler member to be made Whilemaintaining unchanged the angular relation of the feeler carrier andfeeler member, yielding means acting to move the feeler member bodily inthe opposite direction when relieved by the forward push upon it, acontroller, an actuator operatively positioned With respect thereto bythe bodily lateral movement of the feeler member due to the forwardpush, and stops t0 limit the bodily movement of the feeler member ineach direction.

12. A feeler motion for looms, comprising a feeler carrier mounted formovement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler member mountedon the feeler carrier and bodily movable in arallel paths longitudinallyof the shuttle y the forward push of the bobbin when the filling issubstantially exhausted, an actuator operatively connected to and bodilymovable in the same direction as the feeler member, and a controlleradapted to be actuated by the actuator when the feeler member has beenmoved longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK B. DAVIS.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

